Some surgeons or hospitals require a surgical clearance assessment from a practicing psychiatrist in order to allow patients to undergo extensive surgeries like a bariatric surgery. This evaluation is part of the surgical clearance process that must be completed. Insurance companies may also require this type of screening along with a clearance letter from a psychiatrist.
The Holiner Psychiatric Group in Dallas can perform surgical clearance evaluations to determine if there are any issues that might impact the outcome of a surgery. The intent of a psychiatric evaluation is not to fail you so that you cannot undergo the surgery. Instead, a psychiatric evaluation can help us determine if you are psychologically and emotionally ready to undergo a surgical procedure. This screening will also show whether you can adequately make the lifestyle changes after surgery and if you may need support after the surgery.
If our psychiatric evaluation identifies anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or other issues, then we can help you get the appropriate treatment before and after the procedure.
One in five patients who wanted bariatric surgery didn’t get the psychiatric clearance before the operation, according to a study that was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. The study found that patients cited a current eating disorder or unmanaged mental health disorders as reasons for not receiving a psychological evaluation. The study’s lead author noted that a psychiatric evaluation can result in a mostly favorable outcome from bariatric surgery if a patient first treats any mental health issues before the procedure.
This study’s findings underscore the importance of undergoing a psychiatric evaluation before weight loss surgery. We certainly want you to have a positive outcome from your surgery. We also want you to have an overall improved quality of life.
In order to determine if you’re an appropriate surgical candidate, our psychiatric evaluation will assess the following:
Our surgical clearance evaluations can also identify areas where patients might need help after the surgery in Dallas. For instance, if our screening determines that you may be susceptible to depression or mood swings before the surgery, then we know that you may potentially need treatment for this mental health condition after the procedure.
When you’re undergoing a bariatric surgery, it’s important to remember that we are performing a psychiatric evaluation that is in the best interest for your overall health. If you do have any mental health disorders, we certainly want to recognize them before surgery and determine a course of treatment. Contact us today for surgical clearance evaluations in Dallas.
